Las Vegas, Here We Come and Go!

Josh was sent to Las Vegas for a work seminar on a new line of appliances that are going to be on the market soon. After much praying it was decided that J.D. and I would fly along with him instead of driving. We left Monday morning and arrived back at home late Tuesday night. It was a very quick trip. It was also very challenging for all of us in all different kinds of areas, besides flying, but since it is a long story, we will fill that in later. I will tell you though, that Josh and I have both grown more as individuals and as a couple.

Made it through security check points all clear, now we wait.

Hamming it up for the camera

Our plane

The flight to Las Vegas was just a little over two hours. Thankfully J.D. slept most of the way there. Taking off and landing didn't seem to bother him at all, which I am thankful sure. He was the only little one on the flight, so I was a little worried about him being fussy, but he did just fine. Thankfully the flight was boring and nothing exciting happened!

The top of Mount Hood peaking above the clouds.

One of Josh's favorite pictures

One of my favorite pictures

A view of the Las Vegas Strip

(right above the wing)

We arrived in Las Vegas safely! I found it slightly ironic that while we were making our way to the baggage claim, there were quite a few firefighters and other emergency personnel inside the airport at one escalator. The air smelled like an electrical fire, but there was no evidence of one.

On that ground at last!

Waiting for the shuttle bus to take us to the MGM.

Arriving at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

Inside the lobby

The picture turned out really dark, but the lobby is beautiful with granite floors.

For dinner we decided to eat at the Rainforest Cafe. It is a beautiful place, and the only family friendly place to eat at in the MGM. They have huge aquariums that you walk underneath and are around you that contain all kinds of tropical fish. They also have monkey's swinging through trees, elephants in bushes that shake their ears and move their trunks, and butterflies that flutter their wings in trees. Needless to say, J.D. loved looking at everything, until the elephant trumpeted that is. He got a little scared at that. Afterwards, every time he heard the elephant, he would growl and grunt at it.

The meal was good, and very expensive. $44 and change.
Our server was excellent and I was very impressed. He called us "sir" and "Ma'am" and would sort of bow to us. He served in Vietnam and originally was from Oklahoma, and his manner showed it.

J.D. signing "more" for a sip of my smoothie.

Inside the Rainforest Cafe

After dinner we went for a quick walk on the strip. Our mission was to find a picture frame that we liked so we could add it to our collection of Anniversary Trips. We did not buy one on our honeymoon. We finally found one that we liked. This has been the most expensive picture frame that we have ever bought. Over $400 if you include the price of my plane ticket.

the Strip

Josh and J.D. with the MGM Lion

Josh wanted one of J.D. and me

Us trying to get a shot with the MGM lion (upper right corner)

Tuesday Josh was at his seminar from 7-2:30. Check out time from the hotel room was at 11, so J.D. and I spent all day walking from one end of MGM to the other and back again over and over. We stopped at looked at the fish in the Rainforest Cafe, and watched the lions at the Lion Habitat. By the time that Josh was finally done, my shoulders were so sore from carring him around in his carrier. I don't know how many miles I walked, but to get from one end to the other took close to 25 minutes and my feet were sore!
Even after Josh was out we walked the same path a few more times, biding time until were could get ready to go to the airport.

Our shuttle picked us up from MGM around 6:30, so we only had to wait an hour and a half at the air port. The good thing about flying at night is that you don't have to wait in long lines and deal with a lot of people.

Waiting for the plane to arrive

Waiting for take-off

J.D. slept all the way home, even through the landing.

We left Las Vegas in 80 degree weather and arrived in Portland with rain and a slight mix of snow. We are so glad to be back home.